Sample washer



Jan. 7, 1969 R. WASH ETAL 3,420,372

SAMPLE WASHER Filed April 4. 1966 Sheet of 2 INVENTOR.

ROY L. WASH EVERETT E. DAVIDSON ATTORNEY Jan. 7, 1969 R. L. WASH ETAL SAMPLE WASHER Sheet 2 of 2 Filed April 4, 1966 IOT I'IIIIIIIIIIIA\ VIII/[III], 4E

N m 0 T s N H E S v V A M m E ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofilice 3,420,372 SAMPLE WASHER Roy L. Wash, 1322 Eastmoor Drive, McPherson, Kans.

67460, and Everett E. Davidson, Box 114, Belpre, Kans. 67519 Filed Apr. 4, 1966, Ser. No. 539,850 US. Cl. 209-269 Int. Cl. B07b 1/28 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Various types of agitating and vibrating apparatus are known to the prior art which are normally used as a sifting mechanism to separate and grade particles of various sizes within a plurality of stacked sieves. These vibrating devices normally impart a rotary motion in combination with a jarring action in order to separate the materials contained within the the sieves. In accordance with the present invention, a new and novel agitating apparatus is provided in conjunction with a fluid supply means in order to impart a novel oscillatory movement to a plurality of stacked sieve members. The material samples contained within the sieve members are agitated, and in combination with a fluid flow through the material samples, the agitator and washer apparatus operates to thoroughly remove the impurities and solubles in the material samples which is measured by an overall weight loss. This invention is particularly useful in field testing, core drill sample testing, and cleansing sand samples as desired in concrete plants, and many other uses where a portable, highly eflicient agitator and washer apparatus is desired.

In a preferred specific embodiment of the invention, a movable platform is connected to a basic frame for oscillatory movement relative thereto. A drive motor connected to the basic frame is operatively connected to one end of the platform through a drive shaft having a integral off-set pin which is rotatably connected to the platform whereby rotation of the drive shaft imparts the driving movement to the platform. A plurality of stacked sieve members are releasably connected to the platform by a special quick releasable spring and clamp means. The lowermost one of the sieve members is interconnected with a discharge pan releasably connected to the platform. A water supply means secured to the basic frame has an elongated discharge tube with a portion thereof extended above and over the uppermost one of the stacked sieve members. The discharge tube has an outlet spray nozzle secured thereto through which a fluid supply flows downwardly into the plurality of stacked sieve members. The discharge pan has a hole therein whereby fluid flowing through the stacked sieve members is discharged .from the hole into a cylindrical drain cup secured as by welding to the platform. A discharge hole positioned centrally of the cylindrical cup is connected to a fluid outlet line whereby the fluid flow cycle is complete with discharge of fluid outwardly of the agitator and washer apparatus as in a conventional drain system. The opposite end of the platform is secured to the basic frame by a bolt and slot connection which, in conjunction with the eccentric pin, and the drive motor, provides a novel re- 3,420,372 Patented Jan. 7, 1969 ciprocating oscillatory agitating movement to the platform and connected sieve members.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a new agitator and washer apparatus for use in cleansing and grading sand samples and the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved agitator and washer apparatus which with a maximum of efiiciency agitates and washes the test sample material in a plurality of stacked sieve members with a thorough cleansing action by the fluid flow thereby achieving accurate test results in a minimum of time.

Still another object of this invention is to provide for a column of sieve members, a novel drive means which thoroughly agitates the material within the sieve members and further imparts oscillatory movement thereto during operation to assure proper material separation, size gradiation, and cleansing thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide an agitator and washer apparatus having a simplified and novel drive means whereby the agitating platform and connected sieve members are driven in an oscillatory path requiring a minimum number of movable parts and maintenance.

One other object of this invention is to provide an agitator and washer apparatus which is simple to operate, easy to maintain, economical to manufacture, and readily portable.

These and other objects, advantages, and features of construction will become more apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the agitator and washer apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the agitator and washer apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the agitator and washer apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1 illustrating a bolt and slot connection of this invention;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 55 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along lines 7-7 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the agitator and washer apparatus of this invention illustrating the normal operation thereof.

The following is a discussion and description of preferred specific embodiments of the new agitator and washer apparatus of the invention, such being made with reference to the drawings, whereupon the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts and/ or structure. It is to be understood that such discussion and description is not to unduly limit the scope of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings particularly in FIG. 1, the agitator and washer apparatus of this invention is in dicated generally at 15, and comprises a basic frame assembly 17, a movable platform means 19 mounted on the basic frame assembly 17, drive motor means 21 operably connected to the platform means 19 for agitation thereof, a plurality of stacked sieve members 22 releaseably connected to the platform means 19, and a water supply means 24 operable to add cleansing fluid into the column of sieve members 22.

As shown in FIG. 1 and 3, the basic frame assembly 17 includes a rectangular table member 26 elevated above a supporting surface at opposite ends by integral L-shape support legs 28 and 29. A motor support bracket 31 of L- shape has one leg 33 adjustably connected as by bolts 34 as to the upper surface of the table number 26 adjacent the support leg 28. Inwardly therefrom is a pair of parallel upright posts 35 having the lower ends thereof welded to the table member 26 (FIG. 4). The upper ends of the posts 35 are secured as by welding to an L-shape bearing plate 37 thereby providing an upper horizontal bearing surface 39 as shown in FIG. 1. At the other end of the table member 26 is secured an upright tubular shaft support 41 for reasons to be explained.

The platform means 19 comprises an agitator plate 43 having one end supported on the entire area of the bearing surface 39 of the bearing plate 37 for horizontal movement relative thereto. Movement of the plate 43 is restricted by a bolt member 44 secured to the bearing plate 37 and extended upwardly through a longitudinally extended slot 46 in the agitator plate 43. (FIG. 4). As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the opposite sides of the slot 46 are strengthened by bar members 48 welded thereto. A rectangular shaped bearing block 50 is rotatably mounted on the bolt member 44 having opposite parallel sides thereof in sliding engagement with the bar members 48, respectively. The agitator plate 43 is restricted in vertical movement and held against the bearing plate 37 by a compression spring 49 positioned between a washer 51 against the bar members 48 and a nut 52 on the upper end of the bolt member 44. This assembly is held together by a washer 53 and nut 54 threaded on the lower end of the bolt member 44 with the tension of spring 49 variable on rotation of the nut 54. It is seen, therefore, that the agitator plate 43 is held under spring tension against the bearing plate 37 with relative movement therebetween restricted by the bolt and slot combination. A pair of grease zerks 55 secured to the agitator plate 43 provide means for lubrication of the contacting movable surfaces. (FIG. 4). It is also noted that a grease zerk 56 in the bolt member 44 provides for lubrication of the contacting surfaces of the bolt 44 and the slot 46.

The opposite end of the agitator plate 43 has side walls 57 converging towards a thrust bearing connector 59 secured as by bolts 60 to the upper surface of the agitator plate 43. This end of the plate 43 is vertically supported on a spacer member 61 mounted about an eccentric pin 62 which is rotatably mounted within the bearing connector 59.

As best shown in FIGS. and 6, the eccentric pin 62 is part of an agitator plate drive assembly 64 having an upright shaft 65 rotatably supported within the tubular shaft support 41. A thrust bearing 66 rotatably connects the shaft 65 and the tubular shaft support 41 and supports the shaft 65 against axial movement. The upper end of the shaft 65 is secured to a transverse cylindrical plate 67 having downwardly depending side walls 68 integral with a substantially half portion of the outer periphery of the plate 67. The eccentric pin 62 is welded to the plate off-set from the upright shaft 65 and located opposite the side walls 68. As part of the weight of the agitator plate 43 is carried through the eccentric pin 62 to the cylindrical plate 67, it is seen that the side walls 68 act as a counter weight to provide for a smooth rotation of the drive assembly 64.

The lower end of the shaft 65 is secured as by set screw means (not shown) to a driven pulley 69 which forms part of the motor means 21. As shown in FIG. 1, the motor means 21 includes a motor 71 secured as by bolts 72 to the motor support bracket 31 with a downwardly extended shaft 73 secured to a drive pulley 75. A belt 77 interconnects the pulleys 69 and 75 and extends through an opening in the support leg 28 of the table member 26. A switch means 79 secured to a side of the motor 71 is operatively connected to an electrical circuit to selectively energize the motor 71. A motor shield 81 secured to the support bracket 31 extends over the motor 71 for protectin g the motor from water, sand, etc. which are normal- 1y used in the operation of the agitator and washer apparatus 15.

It is seen that on operation of motor means 21, the agitator plate 43 is driven through the pulley 69, the upright shaft 65, and the eccentric pin 62 to revolve the bearing connector 59 about the shaft 65. However, the plate 43 is restricted in its movement by the bolt 44 and slot 46 connections whereby the plate 43 is driven in a horizontal oscillatory motion or path.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a column of the sieve members 22 are supported on the agitator plate 43 between opposite ends thereof on a drain pan member 83 extended within an enlarged opening 84 in the plate 43. The drain pan member 83 is of a cylindrical shape with a diameter slightly less than that of the opening 84 whereby the pan member 83 is vertically supported on a laterally extended lip 87 resting on the upper surface of the agitator plate 43. The bottom wall of the pan member 83 has a discharge hole 88 positioned over and within the outer confines of a cylindrical drain cup 90 secured to the table member 26 for reasons to become obvious. (FIG. 8).

Each of the sieve members 22 are of a substantially cylindrical shape having the lower portion of side walls 92 of stepped shape whereby the sieve members 22 can be stacked in nesting engagement with an adjacent lower sieve member 22 or the pan member 83 to provide lateral stability to the column of sieve members 22 as shown in FIG. 1. It is seen that the bottom walls of the sieve members 22 are of a mesh or screen material of varying sizes decreasing in size of the discharge openings from the upper to the lower sieve members 22 to achieve the grading function of this invention.

The column of sieve members 22 are releasably secured to the agitator plate 43 against upward movement by a pair of opposed spring and clamp assemblies 94. The spring and clamp assemblies 94 consist of an eye bolt 95 secured to opposite adjacent edges of the opening 84 in the plate 43, elongated tension springs 96 each having one end secured to a respective eye bolt 95, and U-shaped clamp members 98 secured to the other end of the tension springs 96. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the clamp members 98 are attachable over the top edge of the uppermost sieve member 22 to exert a force downwardly on the column of sieve members 22 under spring tension. It is obvious that the springs 96 can be of varying lengths and resultant tension forces which would be used depending upon the height of the column of sieve members 22.

The water supply means 24 of this invention consists of a vertical pipe member 101 having the lower end secured to the table member 26 and a fluid supply line 103 attached thereto. A horizontal pipe member 104 secured to an elbow 105 to the upper end of the pipe member 101 extends over the column of sieve members 22 and terminates in an elbow 107 secured to a downwardly directed spray nozzle 109. It is seen that fluid, such as water, is conveyed from a water source (not shown) through the water supply means 24 for discharge into the column of sieve members 22. A conventional stop cock 111 can be added intermediate the ends the vertical pipe member 101 for selectively controlling the flow of water therethrough.

In the use and operation of the agitator and washer assembly 15, a sample material 113, such as a core sample, sand mixture, and the like having refuse or undesirable material mixed therein, is added to the uppermost one of the sieve members 22 which are stacked on the agitator plate 43 within the pan member 83 and secured thereto by the spring and clamp assemblies 94. It is obvious that the screen size of the bottom wall of the lowermost sieve member 22 is of a size to retain the finest particle of the sample material 113 while permitting movement of the refuse material through the screen into the pan member 83.

The control switch means 79 is actuated to operate the motor 71 and revolve the eccentric pin 62 and the bearing connector 59 whereby the agitator plate 43 and the sieve members 22 are moved in an agitating, oscillatory motion. This provides a shifting action whereby the sample material 113 and refuse material moves downwardly from the uppermost sieve member 22 toward the drain pan member 83. It is obvious that in this use of the agitator and washer assembly 15 without the water supply means 24, the pan member 83 could be replaced with a solid pan to collect the refuse material and finest particles of the sample material 113.

In the use of the agitator and washer assembly 15 with the fast novel washing action of the invention, the stop cock 111 of the water supply means 24 is open to supply a fluid flow through the spray nozzle 109 into the top sieve member 22 for gravity flow through the entire column of sieve members 22 and discharge through the discharge hole 88 into a drainage line 115 which is connected to a drain sewer outlet. (not shown). It is seen, therefore, that the oscillatory motion of the sieve members 22 in combination with the fluid flow results in a quick and thorough cleansing of the sample material 113 and the dissolving of solubles within the test material whereby consistent, accurate results are repeatedly obtained.

As will be apparent from the foregoing description of the embodiments of the applicants agitator and washer apparatus, relative simple and inexpensive means has been provided to thoroughly agitate and separate samples so as to provide a compact unit which is easy to use, readily portable, and simple to manufacture. Applicants construction eliminates a great deal of time consuming and tedious work involved in setting up and transporting an agitator and washer apparatus as this invention can be easily and quickly attached to an electrical supply, water supply, and drainage source for its usage.

While the invention has been described in the connection with the preferred specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that this description is intended to illustrate not to limit the scope of invention, which is defined by the claims.

We claim:

1. An agitator and washer apparatus for use in material grading and separating refuse material from test sample material, comprising:

(a) frame means including a plate member,

(b) platform means,

(c) means connecting said patform means to said frame means for oscillatory movement,

((1) said platform means having means to receive and mount a column of sieve members releasably connected to said platform means,

(e) said connecting means including a bolt member secured to said frame means connected to one end of said plate member and a bearing member secured to the opposite end of said plate member, and

(f) motor means secured to said frame means operably connected to said platform means,

(g) said motor means having an eccentric pin member rotatably connected to said bearing member whereby actuation of said motor means revolves the opposite end of said plate member, and the one end of said plate member is restricted by said bolt member to impart an oscillatory movement to a column of said sieve members.

2. An agitator and washer apparatus described in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said platform means having a drain pan member releasably connected to the central portion of said plate member, and

(b) said drain pan member having an off-set discharge opening in a bottom surface for conveyance of the fluid from said fluid supply means laterally of the apparatus.

3. An agitator and washer apparatus described in claim 1 wherein:

(a) said platform means having a drain pan member releasably connected to said plate member,

(b) said bolt member secured to said frame means extending through to a slot in one end of said plate member,

(c) said motor means having a drive motor, a driven shaft, and said pin member integral with said shaft positioned off-set therefrom, and

(d) said pin member operable on actuation of said driven shaft to revolve the opposite end of said plate member about the axis of said driven shaft, and the one end of said plate member is restricted by said bolt member in said slot.

4. An agitator and washer apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said plate member having one end in sliding engagement with a bearing plate mounted on said frame means, and

(b) said bolt member extended within a solt in said one end of said plate member, and a bearing member is connected through a shaft member to said motor means whereby said bolt member and said bearing member coact with said motor means to impart oscillatory movement to said plate member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,265,267 5/ 1918 Simpson 209--332 1,363,207 12/1920 Rogers 209269 X 2,663,423 12/ 1953 Wheeler 209237 2,734,631 2/1956. Kobliska 209237 2,800,228 7/1957 Horsley 209269 2,950,819 8/1960 Holman 209-332 X 3,228,522 2/ 1966 Strand 209343 FOREIGN PATENTS 849,798 9/ 1952 Germany.

HARRY B. THORNTON, Primary Examiner. ROBERT HALPER, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 209319, 344 

